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Post by crapslinger on Mar 3, 2017 11:44:14 GMT
Report yesterday of possibility of Newcastle signing Imbula in the summer.He has been hugely disappointing and apart from early promise has brought nothing to the team long term. We should cut our losses and Hughes should have a clear out, starting with Imbula, and sign the good DM we need and let's hope Afelay can regain his consistent form he showed before his injury to give us the creativity going forward. Sadly, I have to agree with lots of other contributors who feel we have not progressed this last 18 months. Huighes seems unable to decide on his best formation, but we cannot afford to have a repeat of the humiliating defeat we suffered at Spurs, with home games against Arsenal and Chelsea coming up and Man City nex week. We need to be more competitive and resilient Newcastle Town
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Post by Fred Merger on Mar 3, 2017 16:24:45 GMT
If this is true about Imbula leaving,then serious questions need to be put to the management team! I'm more concerned that we had a chance to offload him to Torino then moved the goalposts at the last minute. We're going to get stuck with a player on a huge contract that gives absolutely no benefit to the team. We really need Bojan to come good at Mainz otherwise we'll be in the same boat as Imbula. Two players on huge long term contracts who offer next to nothing. The management team/recruitment team needs looking at. I wouldn't be bothered if they all went. I think the reason that we did move the goalposts was down to the fact that we would lose too much outlay in such a short time. I think their bid was in the region of 10 million pounds which would have been 8.3 million lost in 12 months!
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Post by trickydicky73 on Mar 3, 2017 16:59:56 GMT
Imbula hasn't rucked up at Stoke and suddenly forgotten the defensive side to his game.
It's patently obvious that he's never ever had a defensive element to his game, so if you want him in your side, you accept that fact and build a midfield around him to complement the attributes that he can offer you ...
I'm pretty sure that if you played a 3 man midfield with Allen alongside him and a top quality DCM sitting behind him, then you would see Imbula flourish, you've got Allen and the new DCM to get on with the dirty stuff, whilst Imbula is given the freedom to do what he does best, only problem being, in that set up, you're completely fucked with Berahino leading the line.
Berahino is going to (at least) need a number 10 behind him or even a partner in a '2' to see the best out of him ... again a lack of planning from Hughes with regard to recruitment. If he'd focused on a different type of striker then this could be a goer but a bed has been made that is going to have to be lay in.
The only way to get round this, would be to play a 3-5-2 but that would mean having having to recruit 'two' proper wing backs and probably lose Ryan, as all of your three centre backs need to be far more mobile in a 3-5-2, than two centre backs together need to be in a flat back four.
Furthermore there would be no obvious place in a 3-5-2, for Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan. So in effect in order to accommodate Imbula, you'd have to lose Ryan, Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan AND recruit two new wing backs.
He's going to be gone in the summer isn't he?
Spot on, and highlights the crazy transfer policy of recent times. How about buying players to suit your preferred style?
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Post by iglugluk on Mar 3, 2017 18:04:24 GMT
Imbula hasn't rucked up at Stoke and suddenly forgotten the defensive side to his game.
It's patently obvious that he's never ever had a defensive element to his game, so if you want him in your side, you accept that fact and build a midfield around him to complement the attributes that he can offer you ...
I'm pretty sure that if you played a 3 man midfield with Allen alongside him and a top quality DCM sitting behind him, then you would see Imbula flourish, you've got Allen and the new DCM to get on with the dirty stuff, whilst Imbula is given the freedom to do what he does best, only problem being, in that set up, you're completely fucked with Berahino leading the line.
Berahino is going to (at least) need a number 10 behind him or even a partner in a '2' to see the best out of him ... again a lack of planning from Hughes with regard to recruitment. If he'd focused on a different type of striker then this could be a goer but a bed has been made that is going to have to be lay in.
The only way to get round this, would be to play a 3-5-2 but that would mean having having to recruit 'two' proper wing backs and probably lose Ryan, as all of your three centre backs need to be far more mobile in a 3-5-2, than two centre backs together need to be in a flat back four.
Furthermore there would be no obvious place in a 3-5-2, for Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan. So in effect in order to accommodate Imbula, you'd have to lose Ryan, Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan AND recruit two new wing backs.
He's going to be gone in the summer isn't he?
Very good points, Paul. Signing Imbula for £18 million was a very poor decision , unfortunately it has been compounded by many others in the last 3 or 4 transfer windows. Hughes and his team have not only made some very strange purchases but also some very strange omissions too. It really does seem that they have a very poor grip on how to approach the squad in terms of strengthening correctly. It all makes me wonder whether, as others have said, Hughes is good with very little money but is a poor judge when the purse strings are loosened. To be honest as things stand I am hopeful that the chairman is currently exploring other options before the squad becomes unbalanced any more substantially than it already is.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 3, 2017 18:24:52 GMT
Imbula hasn't rucked up at Stoke and suddenly forgotten the defensive side to his game.
It's patently obvious that he's never ever had a defensive element to his game, so if you want him in your side, you accept that fact and build a midfield around him to complement the attributes that he can offer you ...
I'm pretty sure that if you played a 3 man midfield with Allen alongside him and a top quality DCM sitting behind him, then you would see Imbula flourish, you've got Allen and the new DCM to get on with the dirty stuff, whilst Imbula is given the freedom to do what he does best, only problem being, in that set up, you're completely fucked with Berahino leading the line.
Berahino is going to (at least) need a number 10 behind him or even a partner in a '2' to see the best out of him ... again a lack of planning from Hughes with regard to recruitment. If he'd focused on a different type of striker then this could be a goer but a bed has been made that is going to have to be lay in.
The only way to get round this, would be to play a 3-5-2 but that would mean having having to recruit 'two' proper wing backs and probably lose Ryan, as all of your three centre backs need to be far more mobile in a 3-5-2, than two centre backs together need to be in a flat back four.
Furthermore there would be no obvious place in a 3-5-2, for Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan. So in effect in order to accommodate Imbula, you'd have to lose Ryan, Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan AND recruit two new wing backs.
He's going to be gone in the summer isn't he?
Very good points, Paul. Signing Imbula for £18 million was a very poor decision , unfortunately it has been compounded by many others in the last 3 or 4 transfer windows. Hughes and his team have not only made some very strange purchases but also some very strange omissions too. It really does seem that they have a very poor grip on how to approach the squad in terms of strengthening correctly. It all makes me wonder whether, as others have said, Hughes is good with very little money but is a poor judge when the purse strings are loosened. To be honest as things stand I am hopeful that the chairman is currently exploring other options before the squad becomes unbalanced any more substantially than it already is. To push on from 9th and break through the 'ceiling' and keep within the parameters set by the Coates/Cartwright and co. model then we've got to engage in some risky and speculative signings. It's all transitionary and part of the continued development of the squad. What's the issue about having England's best young keeper and Africa's best young talent and the brightest young talents from Belgium on our books? Instant gratification aside. But it's mainly gravy ain't it
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2017 18:33:36 GMT
I'm more concerned that we had a chance to offload him to Torino then moved the goalposts at the last minute. We're going to get stuck with a player on a huge contract that gives absolutely no benefit to the team. We really need Bojan to come good at Mainz otherwise we'll be in the same boat as Imbula. Two players on huge long term contracts who offer next to nothing. The management team/recruitment team needs looking at. I wouldn't be bothered if they all went. I think the reason that we did move the goalposts was down to the fact that we would lose too much outlay in such a short time. I think their bid was in the region of 10 million pounds which would have been 8.3 million lost in 12 months! I'd absolutely take that to be honest. I fear we'll be stuck with him and Bojan on long contracts on huge money with minimal contribution to the team. A dangerous game.
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Post by iglugluk on Mar 3, 2017 18:58:31 GMT
Very good points, Paul. Signing Imbula for £18 million was a very poor decision , unfortunately it has been compounded by many others in the last 3 or 4 transfer windows. Hughes and his team have not only made some very strange purchases but also some very strange omissions too. It really does seem that they have a very poor grip on how to approach the squad in terms of strengthening correctly. It all makes me wonder whether, as others have said, Hughes is good with very little money but is a poor judge when the purse strings are loosened. To be honest as things stand I am hopeful that the chairman is currently exploring other options before the squad becomes unbalanced any more substantially than it already is. To push on from 9th and break through the 'ceiling' and keep within the parameters set by the Coates/Cartwright and co. model then we've got to engage in some risky and speculative signings. It's all transitionary and part of the continued development of the squad. What's the issue about having England's best young keeper and Africa's best young talent and the brightest young talents from Belgium on our books? Instant gratification aside. But it's mainly gravy ain't it Hi CF . I actually think that Hughes is heading backwards and is starting to lose the thread. We were mathematically safe by 2nd March last year not so this year. Also he has been making some very dodgy transfer decisions I.e. not recognising that Shawcross's injury required cover sooner, same thing for Jack , not buying in a decent striker for too long ( we will see about Berahino but the set up still doesn't produce enough chances regardless ) and over buying mid fielders with no obvious sign of any improvements on the pitch. We are currently relying on retrograde football to try and achieve safety too. I don't think Hughes has any real idea what he is trying to do and therefore I hope the owner's are seriously considering their options. I don't expect Stoke to regularly make the top seven and am not convinced by this " pushing on " stuff , but I do think that we shouldn't be seeing the obvious lack of direction currently on show.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 3, 2017 22:39:33 GMT
To push on from 9th and break through the 'ceiling' and keep within the parameters set by the Coates/Cartwright and co. model then we've got to engage in some risky and speculative signings. It's all transitionary and part of the continued development of the squad. What's the issue about having England's best young keeper and Africa's best young talent and the brightest young talents from Belgium on our books? Instant gratification aside. But it's mainly gravy ain't it Hi CF . I actually think that Hughes is heading backwards and is starting to lose the thread. We were mathematically safe by 2nd March last year not so this year. Also he has been making some very dodgy transfer decisions I.e. not recognising that Shawcross's injury required cover sooner, same thing for Jack , not buying in a decent striker for too long ( we will see about Berahino but the set up still doesn't produce enough chances regardless ) and over buying mid fielders with no obvious sign of any improvements on the pitch. We are currently relying on retrograde football to try and achieve safety too. I don't think Hughes has any real idea what he is trying to do and therefore I hope the owner's are seriously considering their options. I don't expect Stoke to regularly make the top seven and am not convinced by this " pushing on " stuff , but I do think that we shouldn't be seeing the obvious lack of direction currently on show. Hey up Ig/ I thought you may have had a more philosophical/heliocentric view of the job. But as it goes... Are all the 'dodgy' transfers down to Hughes, or part of a bigger plan? As far as strikers are concerned it's hardly an area that has been neglected imo, I don't need to list our current options. Improvements on the pitch? you're obviously having a laugh there. We're far better than the teams below us but struggling to beat those above us {spurs sunday was shit} but apart from that we've taken the lead and tried against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool this year, drew twice with Man Utd. So of the 92 there are currently 9 above us, don't think that'll last for long. Hughes and co are our best fit and will be until their contract expires so rather than mithering about the 'what could be's' I don't want to sacrifice stability and a continuing upwards trajectory for a more uncertain alternative. I'm happy enough if that's just me Ig.
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Post by iglugluk on Mar 4, 2017 0:34:26 GMT
Hi CF . I actually think that Hughes is heading backwards and is starting to lose the thread. We were mathematically safe by 2nd March last year not so this year. Also he has been making some very dodgy transfer decisions I.e. not recognising that Shawcross's injury required cover sooner, same thing for Jack , not buying in a decent striker for too long ( we will see about Berahino but the set up still doesn't produce enough chances regardless ) and over buying mid fielders with no obvious sign of any improvements on the pitch. We are currently relying on retrograde football to try and achieve safety too. I don't think Hughes has any real idea what he is trying to do and therefore I hope the owner's are seriously considering their options. I don't expect Stoke to regularly make the top seven and am not convinced by this " pushing on " stuff , but I do think that we shouldn't be seeing the obvious lack of direction currently on show. Hey up Ig/ I thought you may have had a more philosophical/heliocentric view of the job. But as it goes... Are all the 'dodgy' transfers down to Hughes, or part of a bigger plan? As far as strikers are concerned it's hardly an area that has been neglected imo, I don't need to list our current options. Improvements on the pitch? you're obviously having a laugh there. We're far better than the teams below us but struggling to beat those above us {spurs sunday was shit} but apart from that we've taken the lead and tried against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool this year, drew twice with Man Utd. So of the 92 there are currently 9 above us, don't think that'll last for long. Hughes and co are our best fit and will be until their contract expires so rather than mithering about the 'what could be's' I don't want to sacrifice stability and a continuing upwards trajectory for a more uncertain alternative. I'm happy enough if that's just me Ig. There are some points there for sure, CF, but no I'm not having a laugh. Philosophy can also be a dynamic process , not just about accepting the current parabolic curve ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) I outlined my concerns about transfers in my earlier point and I remain concerned.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 4, 2017 1:05:34 GMT
Hey up Ig/ I thought you may have had a more philosophical/heliocentric view of the job. But as it goes... Are all the 'dodgy' transfers down to Hughes, or part of a bigger plan? As far as strikers are concerned it's hardly an area that has been neglected imo, I don't need to list our current options. Improvements on the pitch? you're obviously having a laugh there. We're far better than the teams below us but struggling to beat those above us {spurs sunday was shit} but apart from that we've taken the lead and tried against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool this year, drew twice with Man Utd. So of the 92 there are currently 9 above us, don't think that'll last for long. Hughes and co are our best fit and will be until their contract expires so rather than mithering about the 'what could be's' I don't want to sacrifice stability and a continuing upwards trajectory for a more uncertain alternative. I'm happy enough if that's just me Ig. There are some points there for sure, CF, but no I'm not having a laugh. Philosophy can also be a dynamic process , not just about accepting the current parabolic curve ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) I outlined my concerns about transfers in my earlier point and I remain concerned. Ok I'll be a bit more specific regarding your concerns re transfers: You were specific in your post about- Ryan- Valid argument that first line defence is down to the bones but I don't see that he needed to replace Ryan immediately, covered adequately by Wolfy and I think Ryan's reintegration is being managed well, {I would rather accommodate Ryan's return than inevitably have to spend big to replace him} with Sweeney, Souttar, etc in the background. Risky but getting Bruno in and being able to go three at the back, with Geoff fit again, etc it's ok by me. Jack - start of the season set back and while Jakob and Given didn't step up Grant most certainly has.. it's turned out ok. Striker- it's not from want of trying, we've got Bony, Berahino, Crouch, N'Goy etc not like we're bereft in that department. Seeing Sobhi on sunday was a bright spark, etc we've got some brilliant players who havn't been able to pull it all together often enough just yet. It will come. Gouranga Grasshopper.
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Post by kustokie on Mar 4, 2017 2:25:31 GMT
There are some points there for sure, CF, but no I'm not having a laugh. Philosophy can also be a dynamic process , not just about accepting the current parabolic curve I outlined my concerns about transfers in my earlier point and I remain concerned. Ok I'll be a bit more specific regarding your concerns re transfers: You were specific in your post about- Ryan- Valid argument that first line defence is down to the bones but I don't see that he needed to replace Ryan immediately, covered adequately by Wolfy and I think Ryan's reintegration is being managed well, {I would rather accommodate Ryan's return than inevitably have to spend big to replace him} with Sweeney, Souttar, etc in the background. Risky but getting Bruno in and being able to go three at the back, with Geoff fit again, etc it's ok by me. Jack - start of the season set back and while Jakob and Given didn't step up Grant most certainly has.. it's turned out ok. Striker- it's not from want of trying, we've got Bony, Berahino, Crouch, N'Goy etc not like we're bereft in that department. Seeing Sobhi on sunday was a bright spark, etc we've got some brilliant players who havn't been able to pull it all together often enough just yet. It will come. Gouranga Grasshopper. Nothing to worry about. SJW is fit for tomorrow, at least that's what I heard on the radio.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 4, 2017 2:34:19 GMT
Ok I'll be a bit more specific regarding your concerns re transfers: You were specific in your post about- Ryan- Valid argument that first line defence is down to the bones but I don't see that he needed to replace Ryan immediately, covered adequately by Wolfy and I think Ryan's reintegration is being managed well, {I would rather accommodate Ryan's return than inevitably have to spend big to replace him} with Sweeney, Souttar, etc in the background. Risky but getting Bruno in and being able to go three at the back, with Geoff fit again, etc it's ok by me. Jack - start of the season set back and while Jakob and Given didn't step up Grant most certainly has.. it's turned out ok. Striker- it's not from want of trying, we've got Bony, Berahino, Crouch, N'Goy etc not like we're bereft in that department. Seeing Sobhi on sunday was a bright spark, etc we've got some brilliant players who havn't been able to pull it all together often enough just yet. It will come. Gouranga Grasshopper. Nothing to worry about. SJW is fit for tomorrow, at least that's what I heard on the radio. Mint. A front three of Sobhi SJW Arnie would frighten anyone. 433 0r 343. ![(thumbsup)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/q4Mqf5MqRwT9PY8UitYa.gif)
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Post by iglugluk on Mar 4, 2017 12:43:49 GMT
There are some points there for sure, CF, but no I'm not having a laugh. Philosophy can also be a dynamic process , not just about accepting the current parabolic curve ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) I outlined my concerns about transfers in my earlier point and I remain concerned. Ok I'll be a bit more specific regarding your concerns re transfers: You were specific in your post about- Ryan- Valid argument that first line defence is down to the bones but I don't see that he needed to replace Ryan immediately, covered adequately by Wolfy and I think Ryan's reintegration is being managed well, {I would rather accommodate Ryan's return than inevitably have to spend big to replace him} with Sweeney, Souttar, etc in the background. Risky but getting Bruno in and being able to go three at the back, with Geoff fit again, etc it's ok by me. Jack - start of the season set back and while Jakob and Given didn't step up Grant most certainly has.. it's turned out ok. Striker- it's not from want of trying, we've got Bony, Berahino, Crouch, N'Goy etc not like we're bereft in that department. Seeing Sobhi on sunday was a bright spark, etc we've got some brilliant players who havn't been able to pull it all together often enough just yet. It will come. Gouranga Grasshopper. Both Shawcross's and Butland's injuries were badly underestimated by the medical team, not Hughes' fault but even I was deeply suspicious that they may be more significant than a couple of months out. This needed addressing not hope during the summer window. But what did we do? We got rid of Wolsheid and Wilson then only realised we were short at the last minute and did deals for Bruno and Grant. Which worked ok , luckily, except we were one defender down Striker was a last minute thing and shouldn't have been due to on going chase of Berahino. Plus Bony doesn't have the managers confidence......again like Joselu. Walter's and Crouch have never scored enough and won't either. Berahino is an unknown quantity who has fitness and emotional issues, hopefully he will come good but I assume Hughes thought Diouf and Joselu would. No cover at LB. No adequate cover for an aging Whelan. A good winger bought ( excellent stuff! ), except he plays same position as our other good winger. Shaq seems to save his best for his Country and is often injured......so no real adequate cover. Allen played at attacking midfield and scoring goals but clearly not his best position. Imbula it seems is going and should never have been bought. Charlie Adam getting a regular games ..... another Pulis player. Reverting to hoof ball, less points ( significantly ) than last season at this time, terrible corners and free kicks. Conceding 4 goals many many times. Hughes has been here easily long enough to stamp his brand but I can't see it happening. It shouldn't be coming .........it should be here in my opinion. I will be very happy to be wrong though it has to be said and I remain a long standing faithful supporter of the club. The club are where I locate my loyalty ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/KYqg3pYeaerc5lD_P7BR.gif)
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 4, 2017 20:12:43 GMT
Ok I'll be a bit more specific regarding your concerns re transfers: You were specific in your post about- Ryan- Valid argument that first line defence is down to the bones but I don't see that he needed to replace Ryan immediately, covered adequately by Wolfy and I think Ryan's reintegration is being managed well, {I would rather accommodate Ryan's return than inevitably have to spend big to replace him} with Sweeney, Souttar, etc in the background. Risky but getting Bruno in and being able to go three at the back, with Geoff fit again, etc it's ok by me. Jack - start of the season set back and while Jakob and Given didn't step up Grant most certainly has.. it's turned out ok. Striker- it's not from want of trying, we've got Bony, Berahino, Crouch, N'Goy etc not like we're bereft in that department. Seeing Sobhi on sunday was a bright spark, etc we've got some brilliant players who havn't been able to pull it all together often enough just yet. It will come. Gouranga Grasshopper. Both Shawcross's and Butland's injuries were badly underestimated by the medical team, not Hughes' fault but even I was deeply suspicious that they may be more significant than a couple of months out. This needed addressing not hope during the summer window. But what did we do? We got rid of Wolsheid and Wilson then only realised we were short at the last minute and did deals for Bruno and Grant. Which worked ok , luckily, except we were one defender down Striker was a last minute thing and shouldn't have been due to on going chase of Berahino. Plus Bony doesn't have the managers confidence......again like Joselu. Walter's and Crouch have never scored enough and won't either. Berahino is an unknown quantity who has fitness and emotional issues, hopefully he will come good but I assume Hughes thought Diouf and Joselu would. No cover at LB. No adequate cover for an aging Whelan. A good winger bought ( excellent stuff! ), except he plays same position as our other good winger. Shaq seems to save his best for his Country and is often injured......so no real adequate cover. Allen played at attacking midfield and scoring goals but clearly not his best position. Imbula it seems is going and should never have been bought. Charlie Adam getting a regular games ..... another Pulis player. Reverting to hoof ball, less points ( significantly ) than last season at this time, terrible corners and free kicks. Conceding 4 goals many many times. Hughes has been here easily long enough to stamp his brand but I can't see it happening. It shouldn't be coming .........it should be here in my opinion. I will be very happy to be wrong though it has to be said and I remain a long standing faithful supporter of the club. The club are where I locate my loyalty ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/KYqg3pYeaerc5lD_P7BR.gif) Disappointing that you can't even apply hindsight to your flawed reasoning Ig. I'm owrate with what I've got.
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Post by iglugluk on Mar 4, 2017 20:19:39 GMT
Both Shawcross's and Butland's injuries were badly underestimated by the medical team, not Hughes' fault but even I was deeply suspicious that they may be more significant than a couple of months out. This needed addressing not hope during the summer window. But what did we do? We got rid of Wolsheid and Wilson then only realised we were short at the last minute and did deals for Bruno and Grant. Which worked ok , luckily, except we were one defender down Striker was a last minute thing and shouldn't have been due to on going chase of Berahino. Plus Bony doesn't have the managers confidence......again like Joselu. Walter's and Crouch have never scored enough and won't either. Berahino is an unknown quantity who has fitness and emotional issues, hopefully he will come good but I assume Hughes thought Diouf and Joselu would. No cover at LB. No adequate cover for an aging Whelan. A good winger bought ( excellent stuff! ), except he plays same position as our other good winger. Shaq seems to save his best for his Country and is often injured......so no real adequate cover. Allen played at attacking midfield and scoring goals but clearly not his best position. Imbula it seems is going and should never have been bought. Charlie Adam getting a regular games ..... another Pulis player. Reverting to hoof ball, less points ( significantly ) than last season at this time, terrible corners and free kicks. Conceding 4 goals many many times. Hughes has been here easily long enough to stamp his brand but I can't see it happening. It shouldn't be coming .........it should be here in my opinion. I will be very happy to be wrong though it has to be said and I remain a long standing faithful supporter of the club. The club are where I locate my loyalty ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/KYqg3pYeaerc5lD_P7BR.gif) Disappointing that you can't even apply hindsight to your flawed reasoning Ig. I'm owrate with what I've got. Good for you mate but hey, let the winds of heaven blow between us. We just have differing opinions here and hindsight hasn't changed that for me. I am happy to be proved wrong as it means the club has benefited but one win isn't going to change my opinions yet. I am still very pleased with the win and the clean sheet though. Your disappointment is duly noted pmsl.
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Post by sufolkstokie on Mar 5, 2017 13:41:59 GMT
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Post by lawrieleslie on Mar 5, 2017 16:54:10 GMT
Those older Stokies will see a parallel with Waddington and the 60s and early 70s. We were promoted in 63 and spent the next 8 years languishing in mid table and a couple of relegation scraps. This was despite spending heavily on the likes of Dobing, Vernon, Burrows, Setters, Banks, Greenhoff and Mahoney to name a few. However we also had a good crop of local players such as the back four of Pejic, Bloor, Smith and Marsh. We eventually came good in 72 of course and the addition of more expensive signings in Hudson, Salmons and Shilton almost paid dividends in 75.
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Post by crouchpotato1 on Mar 5, 2017 21:59:26 GMT
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Post by nonameface on Mar 5, 2017 22:17:00 GMT
It would be great to get rid of Imbula at pretty much any cost. He doesn't have any understanding of how to play centre midfield and I'm amazed he's managed to play top flight football in at least three separate countries. Maybe many teams have been impressed at his ability to drive forward with the ball, which he is very good at, the problem is, he often steals all the space of those players higher up the pitch. So that and the fact we cant carry a non defending midfielder means id rather have another season of Whelan plodding.
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Post by cheekymatt71 on Mar 6, 2017 9:33:59 GMT
Marseille is one of the few teams you can see being interested in Imbula and we might get a half decent fee if Scholes negotiates the right way.
So probably gone for 6M then
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2017 10:04:21 GMT
Still baffled we're not using him.
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Post by peterthornesboots on Mar 6, 2017 15:43:56 GMT
Imbula has done so little since arriving here last season.
He looked great for the first month or so but has looked completely lost ever since.
I don't see how people are surprised at his exclusion.
I think we are all desperate for him to do well but selling him in the summer would seem the sensible option now.
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Post by timbo1988 on Mar 6, 2017 18:26:39 GMT
Imbula has done so little since arriving here last season. He looked great for the first month or so but has looked completely lost ever since. I don't see how people are surprised at his exclusion. I think we are all desperate for him to do well but selling him in the summer would seem the sensible option now. He was man of the match vs Watford this season.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 6, 2017 18:53:05 GMT
Imbula has done so little since arriving here last season. He looked great for the first month or so but has looked completely lost ever since. I don't see how people are surprised at his exclusion. I think we are all desperate for him to do well but selling him in the summer would seem the sensible option now. He was man of the match vs Watford this season. He had two or three decent showings in the run up to the Wolves stinker.. He played well in our attempts at three at the back particularly {Watford and Burnley}, perhaps not surprisingly as it meant we had more protection in midfield and played more front foot nogger. Perhaps we'll target those types of games for now. Maybe we have the luxury of a longer integration, recoup/enhance his price tag over the 3/4 seasons. I'd rather put the money aspect to the background {it's all daft amounts] and concentrate on the development of a proper talent. Perhaps he springs into action in the warmth, or he may not have that 'whatever it takes' to adjust and we'll take a hit and move on. I've not given up. Great footballer, with room for improvement, flaws to iron out, that's not unusual.
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Post by stokeyank on Mar 6, 2017 20:23:38 GMT
He was man of the match vs Watford this season. He had two or three decent showings in the run up to the Wolves stinker.. He played well in our attempts at three at the back particularly {Watford and Burnley}, perhaps not surprisingly as it meant we had more protection in midfield and played more front foot nogger. Perhaps we'll target those types of games for now. Maybe we have the luxury of a longer integration, recoup/enhance his price tag over the 3/4 seasons. I'd rather put the money aspect to the background {it's all daft amounts] and concentrate on the development of a proper talent. Perhaps he springs into action in the warmth, or he may not have that 'whatever it takes' to adjust and we'll take a hit and move on. I've not given up. Great footballer, with room for improvement, flaws to iron out, that's not unusual. Stop talking sense. People here will not know what to do!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2017 22:45:00 GMT
He was man of the match vs Watford this season. He had two or three decent showings in the run up to the Wolves stinker.. He played well in our attempts at three at the back particularly {Watford and Burnley}, perhaps not surprisingly as it meant we had more protection in midfield and played more front foot nogger. Perhaps we'll target those types of games for now. Maybe we have the luxury of a longer integration, recoup/enhance his price tag over the 3/4 seasons. I'd rather put the money aspect to the background {it's all daft amounts] and concentrate on the development of a proper talent. Perhaps he springs into action in the warmth, or he may not have that 'whatever it takes' to adjust and we'll take a hit and move on. I've not given up. Great footballer, with room for improvement, flaws to iron out, that's not unusual. Think thats one good thing about us having a bit of a stagnating season, we can try things like this, and we have a bit of wiggle room to give players a chance. Not so much writing the season off, as giving a few players a chance to prove they can contribute next season, youth and fringe first team included. Give Imbula 3/4 games in a row soon, see how he fares.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2017 22:49:02 GMT
"It's no big deal". Might be translation but it's a big deal that the biggest signing in the clubs history can't get in the first team and looks lIke a lost little lamb in the cut and thrust of the Prem. C'est la vie, I suppose.
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Post by tesco85 on Mar 6, 2017 22:54:50 GMT
Mr Personalitys fault.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Mar 6, 2017 23:11:29 GMT
Imbula hasn't rucked up at Stoke and suddenly forgotten the defensive side to his game.
It's patently obvious that he's never ever had a defensive element to his game, so if you want him in your side, you accept that fact and build a midfield around him to complement the attributes that he can offer you ...
I'm pretty sure that if you played a 3 man midfield with Allen alongside him and a top quality DCM sitting behind him, then you would see Imbula flourish, you've got Allen and the new DCM to get on with the dirty stuff, whilst Imbula is given the freedom to do what he does best, only problem being, in that set up, you're completely fucked with Berahino leading the line.
Berahino is going to (at least) need a number 10 behind him or even a partner in a '2' to see the best out of him ... again a lack of planning from Hughes with regard to recruitment. If he'd focused on a different type of striker then this could be a goer but a bed has been made that is going to have to be lay in.
The only way to get round this, would be to play a 3-5-2 but that would mean having having to recruit 'two' proper wing backs and probably lose Ryan, as all of your three centre backs need to be far more mobile in a 3-5-2, than two centre backs together need to be in a flat back four.
Furthermore there would be no obvious place in a 3-5-2, for Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan. So in effect in order to accommodate Imbula, you'd have to lose Ryan, Arnie, Shaqiri & Ramadan AND recruit two new wing backs.
He's going to be gone in the summer isn't he?
Very good points, Paul. Signing Imbula for £18 million was a very poor decision , unfortunately it has been compounded by many others in the last 3 or 4 transfer windows. Hughes and his team have not only made some very strange purchases but also some very strange omissions too. It really does seem that they have a very poor grip on how to approach the squad in terms of strengthening correctly. It all makes me wonder whether, as others have said, Hughes is good with very little money but is a poor judge when the purse strings are loosened. To be honest as things stand I am hopeful that the chairman is currently exploring other options before the squad becomes unbalanced any more substantially than it already is. Spot on Paul the problem is MH feels that he has to play Geoff to support Glen because he doesn't have the legs to do the job on his own which is why I think he was trying to play 352 earlier in the season but he soon found out that we don't have the wingbacks to carry that off. I'd love to see Geoff sitting in front of the CBs with Allen and Imbula in front of him. Next season if we could get 1 or 2 athletic DMs that could have pace, defensive positioning and pass a ball we could utilse any combination of Allen, Imbula, Afellay or Adam in front of them. The problem we have had is that for the majority of this season we've only had one true DM at the club and that he just isn't physically quick enough or good enough on the ball to do the job that is the key to making us tick. I really believe if Imbula was allowed to just be himself we could have a real player on our hands.
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Post by GrahamHyde on Mar 6, 2017 23:31:57 GMT
He produced one of the best performances I have ever seen in a Stoke shirt at Chelsea last season. Completely dominated the midfield and looked like a young Yaya Toure.
His attitude seems to be the deciding factor or maybe he's just not settling here no matter how hard we are trying.
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